DSM-G600, DNS-3xx and NSA-220 Hack Forum

I'm about to mod my 323 to add a serial port, so I can install Debian natively (thanks to what looks like an excellent how to on this site). To those of you who have already done this, I'm just wondering how often you use the serial port after Debian has been installed?

Rather than mount a socket in the case and permanently attach a fixed serial port, I'm thinking of adding the TTL converter board as part of the serial cable, and only plugging this in to the board as required. This would mean that to use the serial port I'd have to disassemble the unit to get at the plug, but it wouldn't involve case modding at all, and would be generally easier to do. Also, I could re-use the same cable on other 323s, as I have a couple of friends who are seeing how I go with it before doing the same thing.

If I only need the serial port to do the install, and never use it again, then I'd prefer to go this way. If people have found frequent uses for the serial port after installing Debian then I can see the benefits of "doing it properly" as it were.

Thanks,
Barney